Single-session intervention and interpersonal therapy for teen depression in Mozambican clinics
Official title: Single Session Intervention and Interpersonal Therapy for Adolescent Depression in Mozambican Primary Care Clinics: A Hybrid Effectiveness/Implementation Cluster Randomized Trial
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11553169 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pilot, real-world trial tests if a one-visit program plus coaching helps depressed teens in Mozambique access care and feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $157,151 |
| NIH project number | 3R01MH137289-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11553169 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents in Mozambican primary care clinics who screen positive for depression and are open to a single-session treatment approach.
✕Less likely to help
Teens who do not respond to single-session strategies or prefer longer-term therapy may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a one-session intervention delivered in primary care clinics by non-specialists to help adolescents with depression. It combines a single-session approach with interpersonal therapy elements and measures how well it can be implemented in routine care. The study uses a cluster randomized design across clinics to see how the intervention works in real-world settings and what helps or hinders adoption. Results will inform scalable ways to close the treatment gap for adolescent depression in low-resource settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could increase access to effective mental health support for teenagers and reduce depression symptoms in communities with limited specialist care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous trials show promise for single-session interventions and IPT-based approaches in reducing depression symptoms among adolescents, but real-world implementation data in low-resource settings are limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lovero, Kathryn Lynn — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lovero, Kathryn Lynn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Shared Decision Making for Depression Care in Primary Care
A practical program to help adults with depression in primary care discuss treatment options with their doctors more clearly and together.
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Single-Session Intervention to Help Adolescent Depression in Mozambican Clinics
A one-visit intervention delivered by non-specialists aims to reduce depression symptoms for adolescents in Mozambican primary care, with implementation in real-world clinic settings.
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ETUDES: Improving Care for Suicidal Youth in Pediatric Primary Care
A center-led effort to help pediatric primary care teams better detect, triage, and manage suicidal thoughts and behaviors in teens.
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Matching primary care patients to the best depression treatment
This project uses routine information from primary care patients with moderate to severe depression to match them to either an antidepressant or a brief behavioral therapy so more people get better.
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Personalizing depression treatment in primary care
This project uses patient information and machine learning to match adults with moderate to severe depression in primary care to the antidepressant or brief behavioral therapy most likely to help them.
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Behavioral telehealth for anxious and depressed youth in low-resource clinics
A short, friendly program uses telehealth to help kids 8 and up in low-resource primary care settings feel less anxious and sad.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.